The Chinese announcement sounds like retaliation for European measures taken last week against Beijing regarding the electric car market. China announced on Monday June 17 that it had launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of pork and pork products from the European Union.
The Ministry of Commerce “opened an anti-dumping investigation into imports of pork and products from the European Union”, he said in a press release. The investigation follows a request “officially submitted by the China Livestock Association on behalf of the domestic swine industry”specified the ministry.
This announcement comes in a context of growing trade tensions between Beijing and the European Union, wishing to reduce its dependence on China, particularly in the technological field. The EU said last week it would impose additional tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles from next month, following an anti-subsidy investigation opened in September 2023.
Vehicles manufactured in Chinese factories were until now taxed at 10% in the EU. Brussels plans to add countervailing duties of 17.4% for the Chinese manufacturer BYD, 20% for Geely and 38.1% for SAIC, after nearly nine months of investigation.
Beijing denounces European protectionism
Beijing then immediately denounced “purely protectionist behavior” of Europeans, through a press release from the Ministry of Commerce. China had warned that it would take “all measures to firmly defend their legitimate rights”.
In January, it had already opened an anti-dumping investigation into European brandies, including French cognac. Launched after a complaint from Chinese alcohol professionals, this procedure is also considered by observers as a measure of retaliation to the European investigation into subsidies for electric cars produced in China, largely supported by France.
China, on the occasion of its President Xi Jinping’s visit to France at the beginning of May, nevertheless gave some guarantees to Paris by committing to facilitate access to certain French products, including pork intestines.